Emil weinheim



E. WEINHEIM.

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING FRAGILE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. I918.

1,306,650. Patented June 10, 1919.

EMIL WEINHEIM, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

' APPARATUS FOR IMPBEGNATING FRAGILE FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed July 10, 1918. Sena 1N0. 244,137.

11 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL WEINEEIM, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York city, county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Impre ating FragileFabric, set forth in the fo lowin specification.

1s invention relates to a process and apparatus for impregnating a stripof fragile body fabric with a character converting dope, as a continuousprocess. By fragile is meant that the body fabric is of such a characteras to be difficult of manipulation without material distortion, such asis the case with cotton battin or a batt made up part cotton and part otor vegetable fibers.

In my co-pending application, Serial Number 235,445, filed May 20, 1918,for the manufacture of hide leather, I have described one process andapparatus employing endless apron protectors for employment inimpregnating a gile fabric. In accordance with the present invention itis an object to effect the impregnation and completion of such a bodyfabric without the employment of endless aprons. One feature in commonbetween this application and my above cited application is, however,broadly a downward feeding of the strip of fragile body fabric.

In furthering the broad objective of this invention I propose incombination three principal steps,first, a downward feed of the strip offragile body fabric so that gravitation will have no tendency to disruptthe same; second, the local heating of a bath of dope with a strip ofthe fabricpassing downward through 1t; and third, subjecting thesaturated fabric to a laterally applied continuous rolling pressurecombined wlth a surface chilling and congealing action.

The local heating renders the dope more fluid, while the chilling incombinatlon with rolling pressure forms a congealed section on theopposite sides of the treated fabric which adds greatly to the strengthof the body fabric and prevents undue adherence of the treated fabric tothe compression rollers.

The above and further features and details of my invention will betterbe understood by reference to the illustrative embodiment shown anddescribed merely for purposes of illustration in this application, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, like characters in the twofigures designating corresponding parts. In the drawings- Figure 1 is adiagrammatic representation of preferred apparatus, shown partly inelevation and partly in vertical section, for the embodiment andpractice of my inventlon; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, partly in plan, taken along line IIII ofFlg. 1.

A ower driven endless carrier 1, which may e a canvas apron, and whichpreferably passes over a steam-heater 2, serves to deliver a strip 3 ofthe desired body fabric to be employed, preferably directly from abatting machine. The purpose of the heater 2 is to expel all moistureimmediately before the strip 3 enters the impregnatin dope tank. Thisdope tank ispreferably oublewalled, containing the steam heating coils 5within an outer covering 6, which may be wholly or in part non-heatconductin material. Arranged centrally and suitably journaled in theupper part of the tank 4 is a carrier drunr 7 having fabric-grippingcross slats 8 in elemental positions on its periphery. This drum 7 ispreferably rotatably driven at a peripheral speed e ualing the deliveryspeed of the strip 3 y the apron 1.

A charge of dope 9 is preferably maintained at constant levelapproximately as indicated in thedrawing b a suitable replenishing feed.It is pre erred that this dope be such as has been described in myPatent No. 1,263,171, granted April 16, 1918, process of forming leathersubstitutes, all though this dope is preferably for manufacture ofaleather substitute. I appreciate, however, that my process andapparatus are well adapted for the impregnating of any fragile bodyfabric with any kind of character converting dope known to the art,including rubber compounds, theprincipal purpose of the invention beingto make postained as fluidfas possible by the steamover' the heated tank4. The drum 7 serves practicall to permit the strip of fabric to fallwit out applyin any strain upon it. Almost immediate y u on engagmg the1mpre ating dope 9 it as a sup ort by a secon drum 10, driven at a periperal speed to correspond to the progress of the strip 3 and preferablycompletely bathed in the dope 9 and steam-heated. his strip of fabric 3merely la s about this drum and progresses downwar y through the tank 4,principally by gravity, although the drum 10 mayhave' a tendency to aidthis downward progresswith a continuous flow of chilling fluid such ascold water or brine. These rollers, as has been stated, are compressionrollers, in contra-distinction to the drum 10, the operating cylindricalsurface of which may be sheet metal such as copper or zinc.

Within the bottom exit openin 11 'of the tank 4 and cooperating as a sliable ex-- tension closure with the side walls 16 and 17 of the tank 4are a pair of saddles 18 and 19, preferably formed of bronze when therollers 13 and 14 are made of steel, and

having a configuration exactly fitting the cylindrical surfaces of therollers 13 and 14 forming, as it were, end partitions serving to confinethe dope 9. The direction of rotation of the compression rollers 13 and14 is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, and the complete sealingiexcept to permit the exit'of the impregnate and compressd part 20 of thestrip of fabric 3 is provided by a pair of hinged scrapers 21 for theroller 13 and 22 for the roller 14. These scrapers preferably extendelementally of the rollers the complete distance between the saddles 18and .19, and may conveniently be hinged as indicated by the hinges 23and 24 from the bottom of the dope tank 4. The small arrows 0; in Fig. 1indicate how the pinching action between the com ression rollers 13 fand 14 cause an upward ow of dope against either the scrapers 21 or 22,so that'the strip 20 of fabric which passes down between the rollers 13and 14 contains not an over-, but merely a complete impregnation withboth surfaces con aled by the chilling action of the cold ro ers 13 and14. To

: 11181118, however, that there should be no ticles or residue of do eadhering continued multiplication of any small pag to t e rollers 13 and14 after eeing the strip 20,

a pair of -suitably hinged spring-pressed v 1 ,eoaeec scrapers 31 and 32are arranged to scrape may be or may not e completely finished.

As a rule, however, nothing further is required except curin which maybe accomplished in any wellown manner.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United StatesLetters Patent is 1. The continuous process of impregnating a strip offrag1 e non-self-sustaming body-fabric with a character converting dopecomprising imparting a continuous substantially downward movementthrough a directlfl having t e quality of being relatively more fluidwhen hea subjecting said bath of dope and said strip when passing downthrough said bath to the influence of heat; and subjecting said stripimmediately:l upon its exit from said bath to horizonta yappli2edressure and surface chilling.

pparatus for impregnatin by continuous process a strip of fragi e.non-self sustaining body-fabric, compris' a dopetank having an exitopening at t e bottom for said strlp; a pair of laterally positionedcooling compression rollers forming art of a bottom closure to confine asuitab e dope and adapted to pass downwardly there contacting bath ofsuitable dope tween said strip of body-fabric and means for imparting adownward continuous feeding to. said strip through said dope-tank intodirect contact with said'cooling com pression rollers.

3. Apparatus for impregnating by continuous process a stri fragilebodyfabric, comprising a ope-tank ha an exit opening at the bottom, forsaid strip; a pair of laterally positioned cooling com pression rollersforming part of a bottom closure to confine a sultable do and adapted topass downwardly there ween said strip' of body-fabric; and means for1mparting a downward continuous to said strip through said dope-tank,means having provisions for heatin said strip locally in its passagethrough sai tank.

4. Apparatus for impregnating by a continuous process a strip of fragilebodyabric comprisin a dope tank; a heated rotatably drlven rum in saidtank h vin oneesided contact with a downwardly feed ing lap'of saidstrip; and a pair of laterally positioned .rot'atably driven coolingcompression rollers for directly manipulatillrg said strip during itscontinu downwa progress. 5. Apparatus for impre at' by a continuousprocess a strip 0 fr anon-selfsustaining fabric (such as a fibrousbatting), comprising a dope tank having a bottom opening for said strip;means for guiding said strip downwardly through the dope space of saidtank so that where necessary the direction of movement overcomes gravityotherwise tending to strain said strip; and means for imparting bodystrength to said strip upon leaving said opening comprising means forsurface chilling, for exertin lateral compression upon said strip and ordrawing sald strip away from said tank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, this29th day of May, 1918.

EM WEINHEIM.

